Help the Schwartz Family Make Their Home Accessible

The Schwartz family of Urbandale, Iowa — Brian, Jennifer, and their three kids (Annabelle, Benjamin, and Nathaniel) — are working to make their home accessible for their son, Ben.

Ben is twelve (12) years old and lives with a rare genetic disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  This is a degenerative disease that has progressed to the point where he now relies on an electric wheelchair consistently.  Ben is an extraordinary kid: brave, adventurous, and deeply committed to helping others.  He participates in research studies, speaks publicly about his diagnosis, and lives life with incredible joy — skiing, biking, playing basketball, and showing up fully, even in the face of a cruel disease. Ben also loves to hang out with his brother and sister… who understand his challenges, but treat him like any other siblings.Through faith, the family has tackled every challenge that has been thrown their way with a positive and uplifting spirit..

To support Ben’s increasing accessibility needs, the family began renovating their home to make it fully accessible — including converting the walk-out basement into a future independent living space for Ben as he grows into adulthood. They had been told an elevator would be donated to help complete the project, but after they moved to temporary housing, secured permits, began demolition, and lined up generous material and labor donations — they found out the elevator wasn’t coming. The elevator and elevator shaft will cost $100,000 and other accessibility updates over another $150,000.  The family is working to raise funds for the unexpected expense of the elevator and ease the burden on the life-changing renovations for Ben.

Your donation will help:

• Fund the elevator to make all levels of their home accessible for Ben
• Support ADA accessibility updates, including accessible bathrooms, accessible kitchen, widened doorway and hallways, and updated flooring for a wheelchair.
• Provide stability for a family managing construction costs along with medical expenses for Ben.

This family gives so much — to research, to advocacy, to their community. Now it’s time we give back.

Every dollar helps. Every share helps. Let’s rally around the Schwartz Family and help them keep moving forward.